If you have been following the kitchen/laundry addition/restoration of butler pantry saga of the last 2 months, you will know that I have wanted to put the butler’s pantry back in its original home since I bought this house four years ago. The butler pantry was hacked (and I mean hacked!) out of the wall and put behind the entry door. It looks strange sitting in my kitchen with no ends on either side. You can readily tell that it did not belong in the spot where it was in my kitchen. It took us a couple months to figure out that it was pulled out of its spot in between the dining room and kitchen in order to make room for a washer and dryer. So, in order to get the cabinet put back, we had to create a space for the washer and dryer. Thus, the addition of a laundry room came to pass.

My brother came and visited me for Christmas/New Years and decided to take on the butler pantry as his pet project. He took the cabinet apart, leveled the floor, installed the cabinet, shimmed it to make it level, attached it to the wall and put the doors back on. It looks great! Steven and I have to finish it by adding a piece on either end. No telling what they did to the wood they ripped out originally. It is hard to find this kind of wood to match, but I think we have a couple pieces lying around that we can use. After we put the ends on it, we will trim it out and paint it. Not finished, but its got potential, eh?

moved the washer and dryer

put flooring down, leveled the ground

installing the cabinet

shimmed, leveled and attached to the wall

Just needs a little finishing and it is finished! I am so glad that my butler’s pantry is back in its original home! We still have a lot more work to do in the kitchen. The laundry room needs to be sheetrocked and painted, the sheetrock around the butler’s pantry needs to come down to expose the beadboard like I did in the rest of the kitchen. We need to put down baseboard throughout the kitchen and base shoe. Not finished yet, but we are getting there. It may take us another month or two for it all to come together. I will post the final before and after pics when we are finished.

So, I called my textbook supplier to see if they would still buy back last semester’s books. I was told by my husband that I may have missed the cut off for selling them back. I could not find anything on their website about buy backs, so I called the Customer Service number. This is how the conversation went…SERIOUSLY…..

The girl answers the phone

Me: Yes, I am coming this Friday to purchase my textbooks for this semester. I want to bring in last semester’s textbooks. Are you still buying back last semester’s textbooks?

Her: I THINK we are already done with that.

﻿﻿Me: Ok, well, can you tell me for sure?

Her: Our system is not working right now.

Me: Ok, can I talk to someone else who may know?

Her: I am sorry, what did you ask me? I was writing something and forgot what you are asking me.

Me: I am asking about your store buying back textbooks from last semester (talking really slow at this point). Should I just bring them Friday to see if I can sell them back to you?

Her: Ummm….our system is down.

Me: (Looooooong quiet pause)

Her: Well, you are coming in Friday?

Me: Yes.

Her: Just bring them then and maybe someone can tell you then.

Me: Hung up the phone.

I have no more information than when I first called. I spent money on a long distance call for an idiot to answer the phone and NOT help me. ARGH!

I am sitting here at work, on a very cold day, surrounded by several space and gas heaters and what comes in the mail? The City of Alexandria’s three month event calendar. I was considerably cheered when I read the events which will commence from now through March. My favorite picks (the ones I circled and plan on going to) are as follows:

January 8th – Second Saturday Market at the Museum

February 12th- Second Saturday Market at the Museum

Alexandria Museum of Art. 10am to 1pm. Local art, food, music and children’s activities. Call 443-3458 for more information

January 30th, Sunday – Tea and Puppets

Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center. 3pm. Talented Ventriliquist/Comedian Lynn Trefzger will be there and a tea and puppet crafts will conspire in the lobby. The admission is $5 a person, or $20 for groups. Call 443-4718 for more information.

March 19, Saturday – Spring Artwalk in the Main Street District of Leesville

6-9pm. Features knwn and new art and artists. Live music, contemporary and traditional art on display. Admission is free.

March 18-19 – Friday and Saturday – Que’in on the Red

North Levee Park, Fri 5-10pm and Saturday 12-10pm, Sponsored by the City of Alexandria. Championship barbecue, music and a carnival. Admission is $10. Call 449-5225 for more information.

March 19th, Saturday, Corley’s Miniature Petting Zoo

Well, even though this is bad timing for this event, I am including it because I think it is a cool idea and that Vivian would really dig it. TREE House and the Martin Foundation is sponsoring a petting zoo for children 1-3pm. Cost is $4 per person, children under 2 are free. Call Kara for more information: 619-9394.

Great things are going on in Cenla! Hope to see you at one of these events.